Ottawa
Homeschooling
Conference
1 Day . 10 Speakers . 25 Vendors
Event Starts On
Saturday, April 12th, 2025
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
ADDRESS
Kanata Baptist Church
465 Hazeldean Road Ottawa, ON K2L 1V1
KEYNOTE
Rebecca Spooner
Rebecca Spooner, creator of Gather 'Round Homeschool, owner of Homeschoolon.com, author of Journal Me Organized and More Than Words Bible curriculum from Master Books, and speaker. She is a second generation homeschool mom of 5.
With a picture in her head of what she wanted homeschooling to be, Rebecca then discovered reality was far from it and then the real tragedy happened: She bought the lie, that picture perfect wasn't possible. Homeschooling was just going to be chaotic and messy and stressful and hard and she had to accept it and grit her teeth and survive.
But the thing is, the Bible talks about life and life ABUNDANT! Having always felt that God called her to homeschool her kids, and believing that He desires it to be something that brings them together as a family, something that is fun and full of life and joy and peace and curiosity and adventures together.
Surviving on coffee and Jesus, Rebecca says she does NOT have all the answers, but does have experience and will freely share what she hopes will be helpful to someone else on their journey. Come take a peek inside Rebecca's chaotic life and join in a vision to focus less on perfection and instead Keep Calm and Homeschool On!
Key Speakers
Rebecca Spooner
Keynote: Let Hope Arise
Finding like-minded people who share your values seems to be as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. We feel alone, isolated, unseen . . . and it is a problem that is hard to fix amid a world that is too busy to connect (especially as a homeschooler). This session is a call to hope. God is raising a remnant—families who are counter culture and choosing the harder path, the intentional path, and the path of obedience. And despite what the enemy wants you to believe . . . you are not the only one.
Session: Beyond the Textbook: Breaking Free from Homeschool Expectations
There is no homeschool law book and yet somewhere along the way we built a religion about what homeschooling should look like. The "rules" we follow are based on what we see on social media—a microscopic picture of a moment that can't possibly be maintained. We worship at the altar of knowledge, comparing our children to their peers and measuring success by cold, unmoving statistics and facts. This limited mindset is the chain that bind us, and the key is a fresh perspective. This session is the permission you didn't know you needed to break the rules that you made for yourself and find freedom and joy.
Session: The Fight for Family
The attack on family is greater than ever before and contrary to popular belief, the real war is not from the outside but rather from within. Our homes are disconnected, marriages are on shaky ground, and yet we keep walking around with a smile pasted on our faces, lying to ourselves that everything is fine. The Lord once told me that the journey was just as important as the destination. Our fixation on this arbitrary line of success we are running towards is our demise. Is your home on fire? Have the warning signs have been ignored and damage been done? Let's hook up to the fire hydrant and take a good hard look. It's never too late for redemption.
Session: Hearing God's Voice
The answer you seek for your homeschool, your business, your family, or your marriage is not found in a self-help book or article, but rather from the One who is all knowing and all seeing. Join Jonathan and Rebecca as they testify to the hand of God in their lives, leading them to places they never thought they would go. You'll leave this session encouraged and inspired to wait, to wrestle with your faith, and to take just one more step.
Seminaries
Christine Pollex
- Creative Writing - Leading the Horse to Water
Stephanie Sewell
- The Power of Deschooling: What it is and why it is so important for new and experienced home/ unschoolers
- Transcript Creation
- Unexpected Homeschooling: How to Get Started, Find Your Groove and Thrive
Peter Stock HSLDA
- Opening Session. Political Update from HSLDA
- Protecting Your Homeschool
- A Dad's Vital Role in a Successful Homeschool
Lorne Robinson
- Master Your Money
Donna Harper-Hinton
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health: Supporting Your Child’s Wellness
- Tips and Tricks for Using Love and Logic principles as both Parents and Educators
Robin Gilman
- Multi-Level Teaching
Kristin Buckley
- Thrive Naturally: Boost Joy and Balance Through Nature Integration
- Rooted Faith: Deepen Your Child’s Connection with God Through Nature
Silvia Klassen
- Raising Kids Who Walk with God
Diana Rolston
- Homeschooling the Middle School Years: Embracing the Joys, Navigating the Struggles
- Cracking the Code: Understanding Your Child’s Learning Struggles
Youth
Kathleen Braden
- The purpose of your strength
Lorne Robinson
- A Proper Perspective of Work - Youth
Jon Holmes
David McKernan
Paul Kronberg
- Secondary school panel (youth)
Registration fees
Early Bird Registration
February 17th to 28th:
Early Bird Adult: $50
Early Bird Full Time Pastor/Missionary: $25
Early Bird Youth (ages 13 and up): $10
Spouse: Free
Regular Registration
March 1st to April 6th:
Regular Adult: $60
Regular Full Time Pastor/Missionary: $30
Spouse: Free
Regular Youth (ages 13 and up): $10
At the door:
(Cash preferred, Card payment available)
Adult: $70 (No Member Discount at Door)
Full Time Pastor/Missionary: $35
Spouse: Free
Youth (ages 13 and up): $10
Vendor Hall Only Pass at 10:00 a.m.: $20
Vendor Hall Only Pass after 3:00 p.m: $15
FAQs
Yes, on regular adult tickets! Members will have received a discount code by email. We ask that you resist the urge to share the code with friends. We will be checking to make sure that those that use the code are current RVHEA members. There are no discounts at the door, and no further discounts on Full Time Pastors.
No catch. At RVHEA we want to make sure that you both can come enjoy the day together. When you fill in your registration, go ahead and sign your spouse up too. (Sorry, your BFF doesn't count)
RVHEA loves children, but please arrange for offsite child care. The minimum age of attendees is 13 as of December 31, 2025. Youth must be accompanied by an adult (parent or another responsible adult). Nursing babies are welcome, and there will be a quiet room available. Due to space limitations, no strollers will be allowed in the vendor hall.
Church parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. City of Ottawa By-law requires that cars parked on the street must be moved every 3 hours. We have permission to park in the Farm Boy parking lot. If you are asked, say that you are attending a conference at Kanata Baptist Church.
For general conference questions, send us an email at [email protected]
If you have a registration specific question, please direct them to [email protected]
Refund requests will only be accepted seven or more days before the conference. There is a 50% cancellation fee. No adjustments will be made at the Conference or after the event.